November 29th 2023.
On December 9th, Blackwell Auctions in Clearwater, Florida will be hosting a historic and rare auction. This auction will be introducing the world to a collection of Polaroid test shots and the Hasselblad camera used to capture the iconic Thriller album cover of Michael Jackson. This collection is coming directly from photographer Dick Zimmerman's archive and has never been presented for auction before.
The Thriller album was released in 1982 and has since become one of the best-selling albums of all time. The chosen cover photo, featuring Michael Jackson in a white jacket and trousers with a black top, has become one of the most recognizable images in music history.
At the auction, five Polaroid test images will be presented, giving fans and collectors a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the album cover. The most notable image is the one that was chosen as the Thriller album cover, estimated to fetch $19,000. Additionally, four alternate cover shots including Jackson with a tiger cub will be available for $6,350 each.
The auction will also include the Hasselblad 500ELX camera that Zimmerman used on the day of the shoot. This camera played a crucial role in capturing the moments that became the Thriller album cover and will be sold for an estimated $19,000.
Edwin Bailey, owner of Blackwell Auctions, spoke on the cultural importance of these items. He said, “The Thriller cover is one of the most widely distributed and immediately recognizable photographs ever taken”. He also noted the privilege of offering these Polaroids and the camera, all of which have been part of Zimmerman’s personal collection since 1982.
The items will come with a letter of authenticity from Zimmerman and the winning bidder will receive copyright ownership, allowing for commercial reproduction. Zimmerman himself commented on the auction, saying “As an artist, I'm proud to have played a part in creating the best-selling album ever”. He sees this as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for collectors and fans of entertainment memorabilia to bid on pieces that hold significant value in music history.
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